2 witnesses linked to 'PDEA leaks' released from Senate detention -- Escudero

Source: The Manila times
Author: Javier Joe Ismael

MANILA, Philippines -- Senate President Francis Escudero has said that a former member of the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) and former National Police Commission staff who were both cited in contempt for lying during the Senate investigation into the supposed leaked PDEA documents, have been released.

Former PDEA agent Jonathan Morales and Eric Santiago of Napolcom were freed from Senate detention on Thursday.

Escudero said Senate President Pro Tempore Jose Estrada called him to inform him that he allowed the release of Morales.

Sen. Francis Escudero discusses his agenda as Senate president in his first press conference during the Kapihan sa Senado on May 23, 2024. PHOTO BY RENE H. DILAN

It was Estrada who moved to cite Morales in contempt for "continuously lying" about his data sheet that was submitted to the PDEA when he was applying as an agent.

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Estrada, on several instances, questioned Morales' background and credibility as a witness as he testified about the existence of a supposed 2012 PDEA pre-operation report that implicated now-President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. and actress Maricel Soriano in illegal drugs.

On Wednesday night, Estrada had a one-on-one conversation with Morales inside the Senate detention facility.

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The Senate chief also shared that Sen. Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa also called him up to allow the release of Santiago.

Dela Rosa, who leads the Senate investigation on "PDEA leaks," cited Santiago in contempt for admitting that he bluffed Morales so he could appear before the Senate investigation on the matter.